Latest Disaster planning and response News

UN chief urges 'game-changing' commitments on clean water

Mar. 22, 2023 14:32 PM EDT

UNITED NATION (AP) — The United Nations chief urged the first world conference on water in over 45 years on Wednesday to address the “21st century emergency” that is wasting the world’s most important resource and has left billions of people without clean water and basic sanitation. ...

President approves Vermont disaster help for December storm

Mar. 22, 2023 12:11 PM EDT

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — President Joe Biden has approved a federal disaster declaration for eight Vermont counties hit by a December storm that left tens of thousands of people without power during the Christmas holiday week. On Tuesday Gov. Phil Scott and the three members of the...

Climate solution: Downsize laundry jugs to cut emissions

Mar. 22, 2023 08:09 AM EDT

Laundry detergent is looking a little different these days. A growing number of companies are making bulky plastic jugs smaller and concentrating the detergent or soap. Without all that water, less fossil fuels are required for transport, because the products are lighter and more can...

UN: Many African children at risk from lack of clean water

Mar. 22, 2023 08:01 AM EDT

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — In Nigeria's teeming city of Lagos, children in the Makoko area swim and play in filthy water surrounded by garbage. In Ivory Coast's largest city, Abidjan, thousands of families must fetch water from streams for their daily needs. In...

Marcos defends US military presence, which China opposes

Mar. 22, 2023 03:01 AM EDT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday defended his decision to allow a larger United States military presence in the country as vital to territorial defense despite China's fierce opposition and warning that it would “drag the Philippines into the abyss of...

Spring brings more wind, rain and snow to soaked California

Mar. 21, 2023 20:25 PM EDT

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A strong late-season Pacific storm brought damaging winds and more rain and snow to saturated California on Tuesday as the first full day of spring showed little change from the state's extraordinary winter. The storm focused most of its energy on central...

Paul Newman's camp for sick kids rises from the ashes

Mar. 21, 2023 12:11 PM EDT

ASHFORD, Conn. (AP) — Amarey Brookshire was devastated when she heard about the fire at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children — her camp. The February 2021 blaze destroyed much of the retreat in the woods of eastern Connecticut, which was founded by the late...

Floor collapses onto 2 Chicago firefighters battling fire

Mar. 21, 2023 09:44 AM EDT

CHICAGO (AP) — A floor collapsed onto two Chicago firefighters early Tuesday as they were helping battle a residential fire, trapping one of them until he was rescued, officials said. Crews arrived at the townhouse about 4 a.m. on the city's far South Side to find flames shooting...

Supreme Court seems split in Navajo Nation water rights case

Mar. 20, 2023 18:24 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed split Monday as it weighed a dispute involving the federal government and the Navajo Nation’s quest for water from the drought-stricken Colorado River. States that draw water from the river — Arizona, Nevada and Colorado — and water...

Avalanche: 2nd body found of Swedish skiers near Mont Blanc

Mar. 20, 2023 05:56 AM EDT

ROME (AP) — Rescue crews recovered a second body Monday in a search for two Swedish skiers who were caught in an avalanche near Mont Blanc on Italy’s northern border with France, authorities said. Two people who were part of the group of four off-piste skiers survived Sunday’s...